Respect Life

The Mission of the Respect Life Committee is to promote and celebrate, through prayer and educational activities, a consistent ethic of life from conception until natural death. As Catholics we believe that every person is created in God’s image, and we must therefore protect the right to life for all God’s children, particularly the most vulnerable.

Please join us the first Wednesday of the month at 9:15 AM in the Nursery to promote the sanctity of life in our parish and community. We are a group of parents who want to provide information, resources and support for a culture of life. Feel free to bring your children!

RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY ROSARYWe recite the Rosary, one of the four Mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful,Glorious, Luminous) each time. every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month in the Chapel at 11:00 AM. We invite all parishioners to attend, and would welcome individuals to say a decade in their native language (Spanish, etc.) for everyone so we can enjoy the diversity of our community in the shared love of the Rosary and our pro-life mission. A typical Rosary takes just under 20 minutes to complete, so participants should be able to join us and attend the 11:30 AM Mass if desired.

BLESSING OF THE CHILD IN THE WOMB
Many mothers and fathers find comfort and strength in having their child blessed even before he or she enters the world. It is a great affirmation of life and love for the unborn child, to be welcomed into the church and the family. Currently, the blessing is offered by our pastor twice a year, usually in May and October, which is Respect Life Month. The next blessings will be Sunday, October 15 at the 9:30am & 2:30pm Masses.

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION AND BIRTH CELEBRATIONNine months of prayer for our spiritual babies in the womb has passed. Week after week we have followed their growth in the St. Raphael Parish bulletin. Now, let’s celebrate their birth by helping pregnant women and babies in need! Please consider donating items to Birthchoice to show your support for their decision to choose life. Birthchoice is a pregnancy resource center here in Raleigh that provides free ultrasounds, prenatal care and counseling. We will be collecting baby items in the Atrium every weekend in October and then will have these donations blessed at the 5:30 pm Mass on Sunday, October 29th. We will also be collecting items in the Preschool the week of October 23-27th. And as always, prayers for all involved are also very much appreciated.

MAJOR ISSUES TODAY
The Respect Life committee focuses efforts and prayer on the intrinsic evils identified by the Church and the USCCB:

Abortion

Euthanasia

Scientific Embryo Research

Contraception

OCTOBER BABYWith its powerful, compelling story of a young woman who was adopted by loving parents after a failed abortion attempt, OctoberBABY will remind moviegoers that every life is beautiful. As it does, the movie will open eyes & hearts to the sanctity of life. Visit the website: www.octoberbabymovie.net.

Suscipe

Take Lord!

Receive all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, my entire will,
all that I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.To you, Lord, I return it.
Do with it as You will.
Give me only Your love And Your grace.
That is enough for me.